Vehicle-top



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L. U. SHIPLEY.

VEHICLE TOP. N0. 389;767. Patented Sept-18, 1888.

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Lewis 0. Si z pZqy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, iLEwIscHAs. SHIPLEY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,767, datedSeptember 18, 1888.

Application filed December 12, 1887. Serial No. 257,633. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEwIs CHARLES SHIP- LEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VehicleTops, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incanopy-tops for buggies and other wheeled vehicles.

The object of the invention is to construct a canopy-top forbuggies,childrens carriages, and other wheeled vehicles that can readilybe adjusted overthe head of the occupant of the vehicle or that can belowered and folded together at the back of the seat, the parts being soconstructed and arranged that the top may be constructed substantiallyin the manner as the so-called stiff tops are at present built, and thusavoiding the necessity of employing elastic material such as is usuallyemployed in the construction of top buggies.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, andcombination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter setforth.

Figure 1 is an elevation showing my improved top as applied to abuggy-seat and in its raised position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showingthe top lowered. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of top, showing the clampingdevice.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Arepresents a canopy-top, which consists of two'frames, a, which may becovered with polished wood or any other desired material, and these twoframes are hinged together, as at b, and to each side of the frames atthe upper ends of the bows B are pivotally connected, while their lowerends are pivotally connected to a pivot common to both, at at c, whichis secured to the seat, as in the ordinary construction of top buggies.

O is the top-prop brace, the lower end of which is pivotally connectedto an arm projecting laterally from the seat, while its upper end ispivotally connected to a pivot-pin projectingfrom the side of the rearframe, a, of the top. The outer end of this pivot-pin d isscrew-threaded to receive the clampingnut D, which latter is providedwith a handle or lever, E.

The parts being constructed and arranged substantially as hereindescribed, the operation is as follows: When it is desired to lower thetop from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the leverE is turned so as to free the top-prop and allow it to turn upon thepivot-pin (1. Upon now pushing the top backward the joint of the topwill break upwardly, while the joint of the top-prop will breakrearwardly, and the top can then be easily folded into the positionshown in Fig. 2. When the top is raised,the lever Eis turned so as toclamp the upper end of the top-prop firmly to place and to prevent itsturning upon the pivot-pin d, thereby holding the top in its raisedposition, and prevents its wabbling under the motion of the vehicle.

If desired, the top may be provided with a suitable fringe upon itsedges, so as to give a more finished appearance to the top.

While I have shown and described a particular clamping device forsecuring the top of the top-prop, I do not desire to confine myself tosuch construction, as there are various clamping devices, substantiallymechanical equivalents of the device shown, that might be employed withequally as good an effect and still be within the spirit of myinvention.

What I claim as my invention isy 1. The combination, with the jointedtop,

'of the bows B, each one pivoted to different portions of said top, andthe top-prop brace pivoted to one portion of the top between the jointof the top and the pivot of the bow connected with said portion,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the seat and the jointed top, of the bows B,each one pivotally secured at their upper ends to different portions ofthe top and at their lower ends to the seat on a common pivot, thetop-prop braces C, the lower end pivoted to the seat and at In testimonywhereofIaffix mysignature, in

its upper end to the rear portion of the top presence of two witnesses,this 28th day of :0

between the pivots of the bows B and between November, 1887.

the joint of the top and the pivot 01'' one of 4 7 T 5 the bows, and theelampingnut on the upper LEWIS CHAS SHIPLEL pivot of the prop 0,provided with a lever, E, \Vitnesses:

substantially as shown and described, and for JAS. XVHLTTEAIORE,

the purpose specified. H. S. SPRAGUE.

